A quarter of UK drivers suffered some form of vehicle crime in the past 12 months. That figure comes from fresh research by the RAC, and it paints a bleak picture for anyone who parks on a street at night.
Urban drivers are bearing the brunt. According to the RAC survey, reported across Carwow, 45 percent of city-based drivers experienced vehicle crime over the past year. Vandalism hit hardest at 19 percent, followed by stolen possessions at 13 percent, outright vehicle theft at 11 percent, parts theft at 11 percent, and vehicle cloning at nine percent.
Rural and suburban drivers fared better on paper. Around 15 percent of rural drivers and 20 percent of suburban drivers reported being targeted. But rural motorists expressed serious concern about hit-and-run damage, with 34 percent worried about drivers failing to leave a note after minor collisions, compared to just 18 percent in cities.
RAC Insurance spokesperson Simon Williams put it plainly: "Having a vehicle vandalised is both frustrating and costly, but having one stolen is a serious violation."
The nature of the threat has shifted. Jonathan Hewett, chief executive of risk intelligence firm Thatcham Research, told Carwow that vehicle theft is now "increasingly driven by organised criminal gangs using sophisticated methods" rather than opportunistic thieves scanning car parks.
That lines up with wider data. According to Keytek Locksmiths' vehicle crime statistics, keyless cars are twice as likely to be stolen, and 68 percent of stolen vehicles are never recovered. Ford Fiestas and Volkswagen Golfs remain the most targeted models, largely because of their volume on the road and the resale value of their components.
Around 649,000 vehicle-related thefts were reported in the year to June 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics. That's a 13 percent drop from the previous year, but the numbers remain well above pre-pandemic levels.
The RAC recommends steering wheel locks, Faraday pouches for keyless fobs, trackers, and immobilisers. Simple stuff. The criminals have upgraded. The question is whether most drivers have bothered to do the same.